City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Worth and Cincinnati. Fort Worth averages 66°F while Cincinnati averages 53°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,509 versus $1,001.
Fort Worth is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Fort Worth is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cincinnati at $1,001 average has pockets that run $801 and others at $1,401: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Fort Worth and Cincinnati are 841 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $508 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $26,598 (33%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 231 in Cincinnati, up 96 points (71%).
The move
Cincinnati and Fort Worth are 841 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $508 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $26,598 (50%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 135 in Fort Worth, down 96 points (42%).
Fort Worth, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cincinnati, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Fort Worth and Cincinnati? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 34% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Cincinnati is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $508/month back in your pocket ($6,096/year). Over five years that's $30,480 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Fort Worth, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Cincinnati is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
50% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 50% higher than Cincinnati
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Cincinnati
$52,909
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 50% higher in Fort Worth (about $26,598 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Fort Worth is the stronger labor market on paper. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 42% lower than Cincinnati
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Fort Worth. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Fort Worth is the easier city. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Fort Worth weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Fort Worth
Winner66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Cincinnati averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Fort Worth scores 52% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Cincinnati if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 50% higher ($79,507), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fort Worth is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Cincinnati (135 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Cincinnati at $1,001/month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth ($508 apart). Fort Worth median income is $79,507 against $52,909 in Cincinnati, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Cincinnati rent at $1,001/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $52,909 in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Fort Worth deserves a serious look only when your $79,507 income offer in Fort Worth outweighs saving $508/month in Cincinnati.
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